W E L C O M E

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What is Golden Root and why did you start this company?

"Golden Root is a caffeine-free turmeric latte mix that I make here in Denver. I sell Golden Root from my website and to a number of coffee shops nationwide. I started Golden Root about a year and a half ago with the simple desire to help people use food to nourish and heal both body and mind.

I was using turmeric on everything and anything in the kitchen to help reduce excess inflammation in my body from running and hiking at altitude. I heard about benefits of drinking Golden Milk, which is a traditional turmeric-based home remedy used to reduce pain and illness in India, so I gave the recipe a whirl. I loved the warm, hug-in-a-mug feeling that it gave me during recovery, so I tried making a powdered version that I could take on the go and share with others. The first couple batches were quite literally the worst tasting thing in the world, but I worked on the recipe, and, after dozens of batches, I found a recipe that I was proud of."

How did you start?

"I started Golden Root after working on natural foods startups for over 3 years. My Dad gave me some pretty sound advice regarding my failed or past endeavors: “You’re not going to hit a homerun on your first try, but anything worth doing is worth doing right, so learn from your mistakes, move on, and keep going.”

So I did. Working on food startups since moving to Denver (almost 4 years ago) helped prepare me for Golden Root in ways I couldn’t fully comprehend when I started. As Golden Root nears its second year in business, it is my goal to continue to step out of my comfort zone, think big, ask for help, find teammates that can can support Golden Root’s mission, and partner with organizations that I admire and respect. Sharing Golden Root with others is where I believe the true magic happens."

Why golden milk/latte? Why turmeric? (What are the benefits?)

"Golden Milk has been consumed for centuries in India to help reduce pain, discomfort, and common ailments; all thanks to the health benefits of turmeric and the supportive spices found in the drink.

Turmeric is a rhizomatous perennial plant predominantly grown in India and Southeast Asia. What this all really means is that turmeric looks a lot like ginger, although it is much more pungent and peppery in flavor and bright orange in color. Turmeric has some of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory properties in the plant kingdom, making it a wonderful preventative and curative ingredient. Because of turmeric’s healing properties, it’s often used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

The caveat, however, is that the health benefits of turmeric are difficult to absorb by the human body when it’s consumed on its own - but, with the presence of other ingredients like black pepper and a healthy fat, the absorption of the anti-inflammatory compound found in turmeric, called curcumin, is increased by 2000%.

In the Golden Root recipe, I include black pepper and coconut milk powder to help aid in the absorption of the fat soluble compound. There is also 600-800 mg of turmeric in each serving of Golden Root so you can get your fix of the inflammation fighting root with every single sip."

What does Denver offer you for the product you want to sell?

"Denver is the perfect place to create and share a natural food product like Golden Root. So many people in Denver prioritize being active, spending time outside, fueling their bodies with nourishing foods, and taking care of themselves - there is a real appetite here for a product like Golden Root.

For example, Movement Climbing + Fitness has always been incredibly supportive of Golden Root tastings - I’ve been there at 6AM, the middle of the day, and 8PM until they close. The active lifestyle in Denver really created a foothold for Golden Root to grow and thrive. There are so many people in this community that are intuitive and create a lifestyle that genuinely makes them feel balanced and GOOD from the inside out - so I can’t think of a better place where I could get more insightful and honest feedback on my products and business.

On a personal level, I have worked many part-time gigs in Denver while starting up and working on Golden Root, including working at a co-working space, a garden shop, a brewery, and a digital marketing agency. Each of these communities has provided me with a unique level of support and encouragement, and I cannot thank them enough for what they have given me.

Sharing Golden Root with this Denver community has been beyond fulfilling and I feel so damn lucky to be living, working, and creating here!"

What are you inspired by?

"Vulnerability. You know, the kind of look in someone’s eyes that lets you know that they’re being their realest self, right there for you to see. I’m most inspired by people who embrace this kind of vulnerability in order to achieve goals, dreams, and personal development that they’re deeply proud of."

Upcoming projects/ pop ups/ events?

"The biggest upcoming project that I’m working on is a packaging redesign. I’m ready to upgrade our packaging to something that is still simple, but more polished and sustainable. Ultimately, the goal of this redesign is to create a pre-printed sachet so that I don’t have to label. every. damn. sachet, and to create packaging that is ready to sell into local grocery stores.

The next event that you can catch us at is the Jefferson Park Farm and Flea on September 15th! I’ll be sampling turmeric lattes and selling some Golden Root sachets and pouches. I love these markets because they’re a fantastic way to engage with Denver locals, educate more people about the beautiful benefits of turmeric, listen to consumers, and support other local badass makers."

The Flowered Life - Handmade, natural, organic, and cruelty-free skin care products made for the outdoor adventure babe, by an outdoor adventure babe, Misty Leiter."

Words of advice to other women looking to start their own company or project?

"Share your ideas with others, and share them often. Sharing your ideas builds confidence, creates opportunity, and makes them REAL. No matter how half-baked an idea is, it’s important to have your ideas heard and put out into the universe so you can receive honest feedback and iterate quickly. The more often you share them, the more the stars will align and you will find the right people who want to support YOU and your idea."

Day 17 🎁 The powerhouse that is @lauramoretzart of @atcdengallery ✨ ‘ATC’, short for ‘among the colors’, are words inspired by the Rainer Marie Rilke poem, “Painting is something that takes place among the colors, one has to leave them alone completely, so that they can settle the matter among themselves.” After hosting pop up events for over 10 years, Moretz opened the multi-use creative space to host workshops, private and public events, art exhibits, and more. On top of being a brick and mortar business owner, Moretz is also an established contemporary abstract expressionist painter and currently has a new exhibition on display titled, ‘In the Hands of Grace,’ on view until January 31st making it a great place to visit with friends and family this holiday season! • The creative space @atcdengallery is hosting a Vision Board Workshop tomorrow night, Dec 18th, at 6:30pm. Tickets are $40, $5 of which go to the @trevorproject included in your ticket purchase. All materials are included but please bring inspired material if you already have something you want to add to your own vision board to welcome in the New Year recharged and inspired! *Link for tickets available in @lauramoretzart bio! (Ticket sales close at 2pm tomorrow.) ✨
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#florafauna #denver #zine #blog #holidayguide #atcden #atcdengallery #lauramoretz #artist #art #abstractart #abstractexpressionist #contemporaryart #photooftheday #painting #exhibition #gallery #design #style #amongthecolors

Day 12 🎁 Tucked away on Tennyson St. is a cocktail bar who’ve planted roots literally and figuratively in the Berkeley neighborhood: @thetatarian🌲”Originating from central and southeastern Europe the Tatarian Maple also thrives here on the front range of Colorado. After discovering a map with a real estate ad from the early 1900s advertising that the city of Berkeley was gifting a shade tree to every new plot owner, we envisioned our concept around the theme of trees to pay homage to this bit of history of the neighborhood.” ✨
Complementing the stunning interior design layout of the long and narrow bar, the cocktail booklet is not only beautifully designed but just as surprising and purposefully thought out with its libations, drawing inspiration for each drink from nature. 🥃
Photography by @oskaar_l
Our EIC @carleeah interviewed the owners who’ve also opened other notoriously popular spots all over the Denver metro area including @unionlodge1 @thearvadatavern and @klinesbeerhall (DAMN🔥) which offers more insight on the bar as well as more stunning photos of the space!
Link in bio! .
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#florafauna #denver #zine #blog #holidayguide #tatarian #thetatarian #bar #cocktails #cocktail #photooftheday #interiordesign #interior #local #supportlocal

Day 11 🎁 The most magical place many of us call our second home (and where we had our Spring issue release party in May!): @ftgreenebar ✨ Owner Eleanor Cheetham is not only a savvy business woman but a badass bartender with impeccable interior design taste. The setting is ethereal with touches of darker nuances while still cozy and welcoming. An architectural showpiece that is their actual bar completes the space. Spend a night in Globeville to enjoy crafted cocktails and long conversations 〰️ (The @passportprogram is accepted here, too!) Photograph by @wlshk ✨
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#florafauna #denver #holidayguide #zine #fortgreenebar #fortgreene #bar #cocktails #local #photooftheday #denverpassport #passportprogram #interiordesign #design